Island



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAS. CURRIER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPLEMENT FOR CUTTING BUTTONHOLES.`

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,632, dated June 22, 1858.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES CURRIER, of Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and ImprovedImplement for Cutting Buttonholes in Garments; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l, is a transverse vertical section ofmy improvement taken in the line w, m, Fig. 2. Fig. 2, is a side view ofthe same. Fig. 3, is a section of a cutter taken in the line, 1 y, Fig.2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severaltigures.

This invention consists in the employment or use ofrotating cutterspeculiarly co-nstructed and fitted within a lever or handle, anadjustable bed, and adjustable guide arranged as hereinafter fully shownand described, whereby a very simple and eticient implement is obtainedfor the purpose designed, one that may be readily kept in proper workingorder and used for cutting button holes of various sizes.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention I will proceed to describe it.

A, represents the bed plate or base of the implement, constructed ofmetal and having a vertical ledge B, upon it, said ledge being rathermore than equal to one-half of the bed in length. The ledge B, isslotted longitudinally and vertically at its center to receive theflanch a, of a bed C,'and horizontally through the ledge B, and flancha, set screws b, pass, by adjusting which the bed may be elevated ordepressed as occasion may require. The bed C, may be of brass or othermetal, possessing a requisite degree of ductility so as not to turn theedges of the cutters.

On the ledge B, a gage D, is fitted. This gage is simply an uprightplate recessed or notched at its lower part so that it may fit over theledge B, and slide thereon. The gage being secured at any desired pointby a set screw c.

To the outer end of the ledge B, a lever or handle E, is attached by apivot d, and within this lever or handle a series of cutters F, arepivoted as shown at CZ. These cutters are of the form generally used forcutting button holes, a straight cutting edge e, with a snip f, at oneend. In the within described implement two steel plates g, g, cross eachother at right angles, the point (Z, passing thro-ugh their center. Theends of these plates are brought to a cutting edge and form the straightparts e, of the cutters, and the snips f, are made separate, providedwith ears or flanches, and fitted over the sides of the plates g, atproper points and are secured by screws z'. The cutters F, are made ofvarying sizes.

G, is a guard which is attached to the lever on handle E, so as to coverthe cutters F, that are above the lever or handle.

H, represents a sliding arm or clamp which is formed of a metallic bar,so bent as to form two parallel parts j, y', the upper one j, of whichis slotted longitudinally so that it may fit over the bed plate A, ateach side of the ledge B. This arm or clamp is for the purpose ofsecuring the implement to a table I, or other support, see Fig. 2.

J, is a set screw which passes through the lever or handle E, and whichmay be lmade to bear against either of the plates g, and prevent thecasual movement of the cutters F.

The implement is used as follows: The proper sized cutter F, is broughtaround in proper position below the lever or handle E, and the gage D,is properly adjusted, the cloth, shown in red, being placed on the bedC, and having its edge placed against the gage, so that the holes willall be cut at a uniform distance from the edge of the cloth. The leveror handle E, is depressed at the proper time and the button holes cut.

By this improvement a person can exert his whole strength on the handleor lever E, and the implement can be used with much greater facilitythan the ordinary kind which is operated like shears. The cutters alsoif the screw J, be not set with too great pressure are allowed to adjustthemselves so as to act upon the cloth in a position parallel with thebed C. The bed C, when roughened by use may be removed and planished re`peatedly for the bed may be adjusted at the proper height by means ofthe screws b, b. The snips f, may also be detached from the plates g,and sharpened with facility.

I am aware that rotary cutters and tools of various kinds have beenarranged or connected with rotating stocks', so that in the sameimplements tools of various kinds and of different sizes might be used.I do not claim therefore the rotating cutters F, When separatelyconsidered; but, having thus described my invention,

lVhat I claim as new and by Letters Patent, is,

desire to secure l. The lever E, provided With the cutters F, incombination With the adjustable bed C, and gage D, arrangedsubstantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. I also claim the snips f, Inade separate CHARLE S CRRIER.

Witnesses:

THos. A. DOYLE, V. P. MoUL'roNl

